As we had a very long window of preparation, we were able to do a lot to be prepared for the frost we felt was inevitable. We picked tomatoes for three days, ending up with 16 crates full. Of course we did give crates to our friends, Dara, Sherri, and Heather. We were tired but moving forward. But then Brad from PBS had to come out before the frost for another photo shoot — Friday afternoon, the day of the frost. We managed that well, though. And, after Brad left, I got a call from a family who had come to the homeschooling group’s tour, offering to come help!
Mom, Dad and four kids sure helped a lot! Riley helped Will spread big tarps out on all our melons and cucumbers while his wife and the kids helped me pick tomatoes. Before dark, we were done but there were still lots of tomatoes out there. I just prayed and hoped for the best. They took home a crate of tomatoes and also my very hearty thanks. Will carried in the pots of Angel Trumpets while I took the begonias and impatiens that were potted, onto the porch.
Saturday morning, I got up at 9 AM and took the golf cart around to look at the gardens. The one closest to the house and on top of the ridge had no damage. The others had minimal frost burn. Thank you, God! The top leaves on the uncovered tomatoes and peppers burned but the fruit was fine, as were most of the lower leaves. The squash and pumpkin vines had the top leaves burned as well, but the lower leaves were fine. Some corn leaves were burned but the main stalks are green and also many of the leaves are untouched. All in all, we’re very happy!
Yesterday, I started seeding out the tomatoes that sit in crates on the front porch and today, I’m canning another batch of salsa. Meanwhile, our friend, Heather, came over and is picking dry beans in the Main Garden. Fortunately, many of our dry beans have dried down and the rest seem unhurt by the frost. Tomorrow, I get to can up a big batch of Cowboy Candy and Vaquero Relish. Plus, extra syrup, of course! — Jackie
whew, looks like you got in a nice harvest. Hoping everyone’s prayers are answered and continue on with no further frost damage. the Columbia gorge getting much needed intermittent showers this morning. not enough to stop the fires, but a bit of relief for the firefighters. got all my dry corn and more dry beans in yesterday, i surprised at how much beans are still producing! its your good seed!. yake care an dont overdue your knees.You are blessed with wonderful friends an family helping out
We certainly are!! I hope you get more rain so those darned fires can be contained. We’re harvesting daily and I’m seeding tomatoes like mad. Our corn is starting to dry on the stalk. I hope the birds don’t discover it like they did last year and years before that!! My knees continue to get better, despite me beating the heck out of them. I’m so very glad!
I’m so glad you escaped wide spread damage from the frost. What a blessing to have the home school family volunteer to come help. That was certainly a gift and I love to see people teaching their children how to help others. Those peppers and tomatoes look lovely and will sure be good this winter. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Thanks again Marilyn. We love to see those kids get so very excited about gardening! Watching them pick tomatoes was like watching an Easter egg hunt. Very fun and boy were we ever thankful for the extra help.
Jackie, so glad Jack Frost only took a nip and not a big bite.
I totally agree. It could have been very much worse! Now we’re having hot days and just cool nights.
Was sure glad for your updates
Knowing you have knee pain
With pushing yourself at that
Pace. Keeping the Prayers
Going
Thanks Joann! I’m so thankful that my knees are slowly getting better despite all I put them through!!
Whew!! Close one.
Amen to that Sheryl!! We’re so very grateful. Now we can expect a much better harvest of many things.
I think the one hundreds in temperatures may have broken last week. This week, in far north inland California, at the extreme top of the Sacramento valley, this week’s temps are forecasted to have wild swings, up and down. Course, not even close to frost, but as low as the eighties finally. I have my fall garden in and it should be up soon. In this zone 9, the definition of “fall” garden means you won’t be eating any of it until early spring and early summer: danvers carrots, purple onion, garlic, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. Jackie, I bet a fall garden for you is completely out of the question, unless you grow in a high tunnel with heat source. I love gardening. I do tons of seed saving. My husband has just ordered a little wheeled outdoor chair with swivel seat for me to reach weeds much easier. Tools matter!!!
Yes, they sure do!! No, we can’t plant a fall garden. We only have about 95 days of frost-free gardening and only about 115 more that we can grow plants that aren’t frost sensitive. We could plant some things in a high tunnel, but it would be way too expensive, first for buying the high tunnel and second, to heat it. We are very happy, growing what we do. I just can, dehydrate and store what we can and eat the rest seasonally.
Right now, we’re having a fall heat spell, with highs in the 70’s and 80’s, which will help some crops to finish.
I sent out a special prayer for your garden. 90 % of my garden is from your seeds (which did amazing!) and covered what I could, prayed over the rest. Even tho my thermometer said 31°, I didn’t have frost. Yah! Hardy gardens-hardy gardeners!
Wow, you squeaked by on a wing and a lot of prayers! Great!! Thanks for your prayers and others’. I’m sure it helped. Now it’s hot during the day. Go figure….
Hi Jackie..glad you have minimal damage due to the frost..here in Arizona we are setting nothing but heat record’s and no rain in sight .it is still 110 during the day..yikes is all I can say..even the heat loving plants are struggling and dying..I can’t wait to plant some things if it e ver cools down..I am sure you must be exhausted…
I can’t even wrap my mind around 110º, I’ve never experienced heat like that! I hope you have somewhere cool to escape to, please stay safe!
At the moment, our weather here in southern Vermont is practically perfect: mid- to upper 70’s during the day, upper 40’s at night, and sun, sun, sun. Won’t last, of course, but we’re enjoying it while we can.
Yep, Rose, we sure are tired. But also, happy to boot. Now, it’s warmed up to the 70’s plus in the day with no rain. It’s pretty darned dry but we’ll take it. I couldn’t work in 110-degree weather! Wow! That’s got to be hard.
You prepared! It’s a bummer to lose to Jack Frost. Our temp when down to 39. Busy time trying to harvest all before our anticipated frost first week of October. Finally cut all my wood. It’s very dry here in Southern Wisconsin crazy after all the spring rain. Each year is different.
Very dry here too, Everett. Will cut his last hayfield with a new-to-us haybine, as our old one needs serious repair. Over all, our crops still look good. The frost didn’t damage the green tomatoes and now they’re starting to turn color. We’ll get a lot more. The corn is doing well too, as are the squash, melons and cucumbers, with were covered. We haven’t even started on wood yet and we’re both having nightmares over that. (We do have logs cut and stacked, nice and dry. But not cut up and in the sheds.)
Dear Jackie,
The weather here is crazy too. We had 101 last week and now down to 50 for a low. We are in the severe drought area of southern middle Tennessee and are hoping for some of the tropical rain that is forecasted for Thursday night. Hopefully, it will just be a big rain event and not tornadoes. Also, we should all pray for the coastline folks. We don’t want them flooded and blown away either.
I love your vegetable and flower pictures. It does my heart good to see all of them. Take care and hope for a long cool fall and not a total brown out.
Saw 49 degrees this morning in N. Central TX. Of course, false fall……. upper 90’s this coming weekend. Sure beats 100-116 though!
We are praying for the coastal families and hope you get some of that tropical rain (but not flooding). We’re very dry again here. Yesterday, I sent to dig a few carrots and had a hard time getting the spading fork in next to them! We need some rain too.
Hi Jackie- so happy to hear your frost damage was minimal! We’re having temps in the 90s here and just too hot for this old girl to be out in the garden after 8:30 am! Luckily it’s cooling down this week.I’m in the PNW coastal region so this kind of heat at this time of year isn’t typical, but what is typical anymore? Wild and crazy weather all over the place! Your peppers and tomatoes are looking great! Take care of yourself. Easy to say at harvest time though!
Yep, the weather’s sure gone bi-polar for sure. We’re having 70’s and 80’s during the day and cooling to the 50’s at night. So, we’re not complaining but sure could use some rain.
We’re pretty darned busy right now. But when aren’t we???
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